Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-02-10
A GLIMPSE AT COAX VIEW
Description of the Furnishing,-Mr.
CleVeland's "Workshop."

Cleveland's Workshop"
From a WASHINGTON Letter in the Hartford
Times.
Mrs. Gle Veland has made of Oak View,
the Presidents country seat, on the Ten.
allytown road north of the city, one of the
most desirable retreats that any man
could wish, and both of them anticipate
many pleasant day there, after the ad-
jOurnment OF Congress and the rush of the
social season is over. Mrs. Folsom, Mrs.
Cleveland's mother, makes it her home
and keeps its h0spitable fires all burning,
and charming welcome for her callers.
She receives on Wednesdays from II until
l, and the spacious carriage shed that adj
JOINS the barns is hardly roomy enough to
shelter all the equlDages resting there,
while the owners are within the cosy
dwelling, toasting themselves these cold
days and enjoying the surperb views of
city and country life which every win
dow commands. 1t is about forty-fve-
minute drive from the White House to
Oak View, and in that space Of time one
is transferred from the stately official
splendor OF the Executive Mansion to the
simple, unpretentious surroundings of
Oak View.
The stone house, which is very old
one, entirely changed by the addition of
peaked roof and modern porticoes, is
well situated on the brow OF a hill, well
in from the road on both sides, and is
reached BY a winding drive, which COM
pletely shuts off the house, now and then,
from view. A wide hall, with low cell
ing and an old-tashioned stairway, are the
first things to attract attention on enter
Ing. The parlOr is at the right of the
hall, and is furnished simply. The walls
are papered IN dull gilt, the furniture
upholstered in dark red plush, and there
are blue and red striped Madras curtains
on the long French windows opening on
the balcony. The walls have a few good
paintings in oil, an engraving or two;
there are bTonZes and bits of pretty china
on the mantels and low tables, cushions
with dainty embroideries, tides, bows of
ribbon here and there, and all the other
innumerable trifles that so daintily orna-
ment a room are scattered about in good
taste, but in perfect keeping with the
simple and thoroughly unpretentIous air
of the entire dwelling. the costliest artI-
Gle in the parlor is the grand piano,
which, BY the way, like multitude OF
other handsome things, was wedding
present tC its fair mistress.
Back of the parlor and separated from
it by folding doors, Is a small room which
the President calls his workshop, and
where he proposes, later on. to spend many
an hour attending strictly to business.
Its walls are hung with family portraits.
1t has a good desk in the centre, with a
beaten brass writing set, and capaclous
leather-covered desk chair. A hand
somely upholstered buck-horn chair is
near the window. There is an old-fash-
Toned marble-top buffet in a corner, upon
which are rows Ofwell-thumbed volumes,
and chair or two make up it's furnish
ings. Mrs. Cleveland had shelf put up
to display some more OF the odd things
sent her, sllch as a china dish with fried
egg on it, 30 real that housekeeper won
dered yesterday why it was left there.
The gavel used at the Chicago nominating
convention Is another prize relic. But
the object attracting most interest was a
plush photograph case, with a silver "F"
in the corner, lying near the Presidents
writing utensils. Over the door and
straight in view OF the President when he
glances upward from his desk, is another
gift.--an Illuminated motto-with the
words: "Life-Duty-Death
A charming little room Is that on the
lett OF the entrance, with its lace-draped
windows opening on the portico, which
Is particularly cheerful every day, but
especially 30 on sunny ones. 1t has
corner fireplace tiled hearth, and glow
ing CRATE fire. The mirror mantel is top
ped off with a photograph OF the
President, and there is full length pic
ture of Mrs. Cleveland, In her wedding
gown, for companion, resting on the
mantel shelf. The walls are papered in
a soft, reddish lilac and gilt, and the rat
tan sofa and easy chairs which are drawn
up costly near the fire or the windows are
cushioned in the lilac plush. A sewing
table of rattan, with a lower shelf where
the magazines and few tempting books
are piled. had an artistic scarf drapery
OF embroidery, and vase with fresh
flowers. A water color "SnOw Birds"
Horns engraving "Good Night" and
RaphaePs "Madonna and Child" framed
in white wood, hang on the walls. Mrs.
Cleveland Is completely In love with this
room, and spends many an hour there
with her mother when she drives out,
particularly on Sundays, for flying visits.
Mrs. Folsom makes 1t her sitting room,
because Of its cheeriness and the inter-
esting views from its windows. The
Washington Monument looms up in
splendid relief against the stretch of the
Potomac's blue waters. The steeples and
spires of the city, and the no less enter
tanning sketches of quiet farm life be-
tween them and Oak View, make the
view an especially pleasant one.
The dining room has the fashionable
terra Gotta walls, oak wainscoting, and
oak dining table and side board. Flowers,
game and fruit are the subjects depicted
on the walls, and the room is lighted by "a
broad triple window with heavy tapestry
curtains drawn back.
Up stairs the chambers are furnished
in the same comfortable style, and there
is always a bed for friend.
In the spring the grounds will be more
attractively set out and the row OF stately
oaks from which the place gets its name
will have beautiful home hidden be-
hind them. About the old part OF the
house an ivy clings with an old and
healthy growth, and adds much to the
picturesque effect.